Handbook on the Historical Books: Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezra-Nehemiah, Esther

From the tumbling walls of Jericho to a Jewish girl who became the queen of Persia, the historical books of the Bible are intriguing and unquestionably fascinating. In this companion volume to his widely used Handbook on the Pentateuch, veteran Old Testament professor Victor Hamilton demonstrates the significance of the messages contained in these biblical books. To do so, Hamilton carefully examines content, structure, and theology using rhetorical criticism, inductive Bible study, published scholarship, archaeological data, word studies, and text-critical evidence. Hamilton details the events and theological implications of each book chapter by chapter, providing useful commentary on overarching themes and the connections between Old Testament texts. For those who wish to do additional research, each chapter is appended with a bibliography of recent, relevant scholarship. "Professor Hamilton has provided college students and anyone else serious about studying the historiographic books of the Old Testament with an excellent introduction. His careful attention to style and message bring these ancient writings to life." -Daniel I. Block, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary "Victor Hamilton's Handbook on the Historical Books continues the fine work he began in his Handbook on the Pentateuch. Investigating the Old Testament historical books paragraph by paragraph, he provides lucid analyses of the overall messages and important issues in each one. Hamilton's book is clearly written, contains many helpful insights, and is well informed by the best in biblical scholarship. Students and pastors alike will benefit from it." -David M. Howard Jr., Bethel Theological Seminary Author, AnIntroduction to the Old Testament Historical Books Victor P. Hamilton (Ph.D., Brandeis University) is professor of Bible and theology at Asbury College, where he has taught for thirty years. His works include Genesis (2 volumes, NICOT) and Handbook on the Pentateuch.